Versatile Schumaker second to leave Dodgers' bench

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One item on the Dodgers' offseason “to-do” list is clear – rebuild their bench. After losing infielder Nick Punto as a free agent to the Oakland Athletics last week, the Dodgers are about to lose another key reserve via free agency. Skip Schumaker has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Schumaker deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers took one step toward replenishing their bench options by signing journeyman infielder Brendan Harris to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to a MLB Trade Rumors report.

Harris, 33, has spent parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with six different teams. Most recently, he spent 2013 with the Angels, appearing in 44 games and batting .206 before finishing the year in Triple-A for the Yankees and Rangers. Harris is a career .256 hitter in the majors with experience at all four infield positions.

Schumaker, 33, was an important piece of the Dodgers bench in 2013, playing second base and the outfield. Schumaker started 73 games in all and hit .263 with 31 runs scored and 30 RBI in more than 300 at-bats.

BILL PLUNKETT

The Register

The San Francisco Giants and free-agent pitcher Tim Hudson agreed to a $23 million, two-year contract. The 38-year-old Hudson went 8-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 21 starts this season for Atlanta. His season was cut short by a broken right ankle that required surgery. The Braves earlier this month declined to make a qualifying offer to Hudson, who won 49 games during the previous three seasons.

Carlos Ruiz and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a $26 million, three-year contract that will keep the former All-Star catcher in Philadelphia, The Associated Press reported.

Former All-Stars Omar Vizquel and Wally Joyner will be part of new manager Brad Ausmus' coaching staff with the Detroit Tigers. Vizquel, who worked last year as an Angels roving infield instructor, was hired as the first-base coach and Joyner as hitting coach. Detroit also announced Mick Billmeyer will be bullpen coach.

The San Diego Padres promoted Dave Roberts to bench coach from first base coach. Jose Valentin will replace Roberts as first base coach.

COLLEGES: Utah QB Wilson out for the season

Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, a San Clemente High grad, will miss the rest of the season as the team discovered a preexisting medical condition during a concussion diagnosis last week, Coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Wilson did not play in the team's 44-21 loss to Oregon on Saturday. He had suffered a concussion in a 20-19 loss to Arizona State a week earlier.

An initial scan for the concussion turned up evidence of a preexisting head trauma and a follow-up angiogram confirmed it. Whittingham did not give details about the condition, but said it was not life-threatening. It is not known if the condition will cut short Wilson's career. The team will not have an answer for several months whether Wilson can return.

UCLA was awarded the No. 1 seed bracket for the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament. The Bruins enter the tournament with a record of 11-3-4 and are in search of their fifth national championship and first since 2002. UCLA will host the winner of Thursday's first-round matchup between Elon and Clemson in the second round on Sunday at 8 p.m. at Drake Stadium.

UC Irvine (14-4-3) also earned a first-round bye and will host a second-round match at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Anteater Stadium against the winner of the North Carolina-South Florida match.

Washington State extended the contract of football coach Mike Leach for two years, through the 2018 season. Leach has led WSU to a 5-5 mark in his second season, 3-4 in the Pac-12.

Missouri's James Franklin will be back at quarterback for the eight-ranked Tigers at Ole Miss on Saturday after missing four starts because of a sprained throwing shoulder.

North Dakota fired head football coach Chris Mussman after a 3-8 season (2-6 in the Big Sky Conference).

BITS & PIECES: Armstrong claims Verbruggen led cover-up

Lance Armstrong claims former International Cycling Union president Hein Verbruggen instigated a cover-up of his doping at the 1999 Tour de France. Armstrong told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that Verbruggen insisted “we've got to come up with something” to explain his positive tests for a banned corticosteroid.

American Darvis Patton, 36, retired from sprinting after a 13-year pro career that included Olympic silver medals as part of 400 relay teams at the 2004 Athens Games and again eight years later in London.

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